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HELENA – Feds Take Down Montana Employee in $700,000 Wire Fraud Scheme
A Utah man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in a brazen wire fraud scheme that bilked a Montana company out of nearly $700,000. Thomas Lynn Syddall, 50, of American Fork, Utah, worked for Information Technology Corporation, a company owned by Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., in Helena.
According to court documents, Syddall embezzled the cash through a complex scheme involving fictitious purchasing orders and invoices. He would then sell the inventory on online marketplaces like eBay and KSL Classifieds, further concealing his tracks by laundering the money through third-party accounts.
The government alleged that Syddall stole the money over a period of about 16 months, from March 2020 to August 2021. He was caught when other employees began questioning the discrepancies in orders and payments. Syddall attempted to cover up the scheme by sending emails that downplayed the issues.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich praised the work of his office and law enforcement partners in bringing Syddall to justice. ‘For more than a year, Syddall stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer through a calculated scheme using fictitious purchasing orders and invoices. Syddall’s conduct violated the trust of his employer for his own personal enrichment, which now makes him a federal felon.’
IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui added, ‘Our special agent’s ability to unravel embezzlement and money laundering schemes is vital to these types of investigations.’
Syddall pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and money laundering-concealment charges. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon and investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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